Posted on Oct 28, 2015

Did you know that, according to NPR, the Army kicked out 22k soldiers for "misconduct" despite mental health issues?

CPO John Jacobson

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https://twitter.com/NPR/status/ [login to see] 38688001

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Capt Richard I P.

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CPO John Jacobson, SFC Joseph James, GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad

I didn't see this before I posted my version of it, I did add some context from a few different news stories and discussion questions. I won't merge the two due to a conflict of interest (since they dont truly merge, one just gets dropped), this post came first, mine might offer more resources for discussion, I'll leave it to other admins to decide.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/mental-health-pts-combat-deploy-ability-a-crippled-va-system-market-externalities-can-you-think-of-a-more-challenging-gordian-knot

Mental Health, PTS, Combat, Deploy-ability, a crippled VA system, market externalities, Can you...

I know the VA and veterans care is a perennial topic here. I was struck by this story on NPR on the way home today. Please give it a listen/read. It is a very challenging topic and I don't know the answer, but I strongly believe there is something wrong here. This one cuts across politics and normal lines of thinking. Clearly a nation that sends people into harms way bears responsibility for damage incurred both physical and mental. Which part...

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Capt Richard I P.

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UPDATE: One of my fellow admins decided this post was first and merged mine into it: for those looking for the citations and discussion questions I'll repost them:

<<
I know the VA and veterans care is a perennial topic here. I was struck by this story on NPR on the way home today. Please give it a listen/read. It is a very challenging topic and I don't know the answer, but I strongly believe there is something wrong here.

http://www.npr.org/2015/10/28/451146230/missed-treatment-soldiers-with-mental-health-issues-dismissed-for-misconduct

This one cuts across politics and normal lines of thinking. Clearly a nation that sends people into harms way bears responsibility for damage incurred both physical and mental. Which part of the national collective should address that damage? The VA? The Military? The civil mental health system?
And earlier year versions of the same theme:
http://www.npr.org/series/11609328/mental-health-care-at-fort-carson
>>

Unfortunately the survey results are lost, but they called for discussion about how to truly address the issue:

Military health system on active duty?
Retire with honors and access to tricare for life?
Discharge whether good or bad conduct with VA health care?
Overblown and media frenzy? Nothing to see here...move along?

Missed Treatment: Soldiers With Mental Health Issues Dismissed For 'Misconduct'

The Army has "separated" more than 22,000 soldiers for "misconduct" since 2009 — often without benefits — after they returned from war with mental health problems or brain injuries.

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